Slumgullion #28

The Klaus Voormann illustrated cover for The Beatles Revolver album.

A Splendid Time Is Guaranteed For All. The Chicago stop for Fest For Beatles Fans gets underway this weekend at the Hyatt Regency in Rosemont. Celebrity guests include artist, bass player, and long time Beatles pal Klaus Voormann, and three members of Wings, but not Paul. Liverpool, a very good Beatles tribute band, will be performing all three nights, and as usual, WXRT radio personality Terri Hemmert and wry Brit comedian/writer Martin Lewis will be conducting interviews with the celebrity guests. Sunday’s activities include the always inspiring Battle of the Beatles Bands.

Wear Your Best Black And White Checkered Outfit. The English Beat and Bad Manners, two of the better ska bands to emerge from England in the 1980s, will perform at the Double Door tonight, along with Chris Murray. Doors open at 7:00 PM. Tickets are $25.

Rock The Vote. The Reptoids, a hard-hitting but melodic band comprised of three women and one guy, have entered a Guitar Center sponsored competition to open for Kiss when the painted ones come to Chicago. Fans can cast their votes at the Eventful website.

Wishing It Was Better. The Like has done just about everything right in conjunction with its new Release Me CD, from the flawless Brit invasion style songs to the first video, “He’s Not A Boy.” So it was surprising to encounter the four-woman band’s depressingly bad new clip for the catchy but mean-spirited “Wishing He Was Dead.” It’s kind of funny to hear lead vocalist Z Berg singing about violently assaulting her two-timing boyfriend, but the video takes those images too literally, and without exhibiting much imagination. Even though the clip ends with a sly wink from Berg and some good-natured laughing from the bloodied ‘corpse,’ it’s still a misfire.

Cant Wait To See What They Do With The Summer Of 42. Jeff Charreaux of Ultraviolet Eye sends word that his band’s upcoming CD will be comprised of songs inspired by coming of age movies. Considering Ultraviolet Eye’s penchant for offbeat and high energy garage rock tunes, this promises to be an intriguing effort.

Popping In Portland. International Pop Overthrow has now moved on to Portland, where the fest’s founder David Bash will be introducing over 30 acts to audiences at the East End club. It started this past Wednesday, and will run through Saturday, August 14th. This weekend’s lineup includes veteran power poppers The Orchid Highway, who have a great title track on their latest release, Next World; The Quags, a melodic quartet that lists The Kinks and The Buzzcocks among its influences; and the Elvis Costello-inspired Blue Skies For Black Hearts. I could probably find several more interesting acts on the schedule by surfing MySpace, but people in Portland can discover these bands in person.

The Neverlies In Niles. The Neverly Brothers, a unique tribute act that escorts audiences through the history of rock & roll from the 1950s through the mid-1960s (see Archive, January 2009, Viva La Evolution!), will be helping the Golf Mill Shopping Center in Niles celebrate its 50th Anniversary with an outdoor concert tonight. You have to love a band that covers The Hollies covering “Rockin’ Robin.” The show starts at 7:00 PM.

Solo At The Sappho. Singer-songwriter Ellen Rosner has been performing with a band on her most recent gigs, but she’ll be going the solo route when she appears at Women & Children First Bookstore on Clark Street as part of the Sappho’s Salon series. Billed as “A Provocative Night of Lesbian Diversions,” the August 21st event will run from 7:00 to 9:30 PM, and also feature Fay Jacobs and DJ SpinNikki. A $7 - $10 sliding fee includes food and wine.

Live From The Highwood Bowl. Pop Dollys, the trio that made such an impressive debut with its high speed, Brit Invasion style tunes at this year’s International Pop Overthrow - Chicago, has a performance coming up a week from today, at the Highwood Bowl in Highwood, Illinois. The group will also be playing a benefit for the Adrienne’s Angels Animal Shelter on September 25th in Mount Carrol. 6 by 3, the debut EP from Pop Dollys, should be available soon.